Spinners for sale

Saturday, 11th December
What is the key to defeating corruption in cricket? Tough sentences for those caught and convicted? Full disclosure of cricketers’ financial dealings and assets? Nope. The secret, apparently, is education. So the PCB have assigned to Wasim Bari the vital task of explaining to Pakistani cricketers that it is wrong to take money in exchange for fixing the results of cricket matches.

The PCB have spared no expense in backing Bari with a hard-hitting poster campaign. Designed by Ijaz Butt’s great-grandson and utilising the latest in wax-colouration technology, the poster features a cartoon cricketer receiving a bundle of money from a suspicious looking man in a fedora. Below this startling visual representation of all that is wrong with the modern game is printed the word, “Bad” in bold capitals.

And Mr Bari has an uncompromising message for the cricketers of Pakistan:

“It has never been acceptable for players to get involved in fixing, apart from when it was, but it certainly isn’t anymore, not even if you don’t get caught.”

Sunday, 12th December
Following the revelation that Nathan Hauritz has sold some of his cricket memorabilia in a fit of pique, Cricket Australia have retaliated by putting Hauritz up for sale on eBay, along with an assortment of discarded spinners including a Krezja, a Doherty, a Casson and a McGain.

The full listing describes the job lot of offspinners, left-armers and leggies as:

“Unwanted selections, barely used, some slight wear and tear around the edges. Would make lovely gift for struggling village cricket team. Could also make eye-catching garden ornaments or theatrical dummies for West End. Baggy green caps and lingering feeling of resentment included.”

Monday, 13th December
Michael Beer isn’t the only new face in the Australian squad. Johnson Mitchell is an exciting prospect: a dashing young fast bowler known for his immaculate dental hygiene and uncanny ability to land at least three balls an over on the cut strip. The young lad apparently celebrated his call-up by getting a tattoo of a pitch drawn on his left forearm, featuring helpful arrows indicating where to bowl.

One or two irresponsible journalists have suggested that Johnson Mitchell bears an uncanny resemblance to Aussie reject and all-round no-hoper Mitchell Johnson, an accusation that Andrew Hilditch, wearing a foil hat, was quick to refute.

“Mitchell Johnson is a failed pie-chucker who simply cannot be relied upon in a crucial Ashes battle; he is a luxury we can’t afford. Johnson Mitchell, on the other hand, is a deadly fast bowler who will cause the English batsmen sleepless nights, particularly since we had that radar device fitted to his cranium.”

Tuesday, 14th December
The news that the 96-year-old politician and part-time spinner Sanath Jayasuriya has been selected for Sri Lanka’s provisional World Cup squad has drawn a swift response from the ICC’s Dignity Department.

“Mr Jayasuriya hasn’t reached double figures since 2007 and this selection is a violation of his human rights, specifically, his right not to be forced to embarrass himself in public We all remember watching Mike Gatting lumbering out to bat in 1993 and surely no one wants to see a repeat of those horrific scenes.”

However, a delighted Jayasuriya has stated that he hopes to be in contention for the 2015 tournament and, dodgy hip permitting, the 2019 and 2023 editions as well.

“You’re only as young as you feel,” quipped the elderly bat-swisher, “And I don’t feel a day over 67.”

Andrew Hughes should be a stand up comedian.This is the funniest article I have ever read on this website.does he have a blog or something I can subscribe to..too funny!!

MS. Hussain
on December 15, 2010, 10:04 GMT

Great peace, but the idea of putting OZ spinners on sale on e-bay won't do as only lots in dozens can be put ( as they haven't yet reached dozen after Warnie), On the other hand Pakistan is the only team who can put Discarded Captains/ banned players/ fined players & even rear combination of " banned, finned & reinstated" players for Sale in dozens, courtesy IJAZ BUTT

Anand
on December 15, 2010, 9:21 GMT

deadly Johnson Mitchell and 96-year old Jayasuriya...ROFL...superb

Anirudh
on December 15, 2010, 8:14 GMT

Your best effort yet! Hillarious

"Cricket Australia have retaliated by putting Hauritz up for sale on eBay, along with an assortment of discarded spinners"!!!

"I don’t feel a day over 67"

Jonathan
on December 15, 2010, 7:35 GMT

Haha, this is hilarious!

satyen
on December 15, 2010, 7:15 GMT

The young lad apparently celebrated his call-up by getting a tattoo of a pitch drawn on his left forearm, featuring helpful arrows indicating where to bowl.... ha ha ha

Andre Huster
on December 26, 2010, 4:58 GMT

Hey, leave Doherty alone!
Good post. Other than the Doherty bit! :-)

spn
on December 16, 2010, 13:01 GMT

Great stuff andrew as always!!

stand up
on December 16, 2010, 1:38 GMT

Andrew Hughes should be a stand up comedian.This is the funniest article I have ever read on this website.does he have a blog or something I can subscribe to..too funny!!

MS. Hussain
on December 15, 2010, 10:04 GMT

Great peace, but the idea of putting OZ spinners on sale on e-bay won't do as only lots in dozens can be put ( as they haven't yet reached dozen after Warnie), On the other hand Pakistan is the only team who can put Discarded Captains/ banned players/ fined players & even rear combination of " banned, finned & reinstated" players for Sale in dozens, courtesy IJAZ BUTT

Anand
on December 15, 2010, 9:21 GMT

deadly Johnson Mitchell and 96-year old Jayasuriya...ROFL...superb

Anirudh
on December 15, 2010, 8:14 GMT

Your best effort yet! Hillarious

"Cricket Australia have retaliated by putting Hauritz up for sale on eBay, along with an assortment of discarded spinners"!!!

"I don’t feel a day over 67"

Jonathan
on December 15, 2010, 7:35 GMT

Haha, this is hilarious!

satyen
on December 15, 2010, 7:15 GMT

The young lad apparently celebrated his call-up by getting a tattoo of a pitch drawn on his left forearm, featuring helpful arrows indicating where to bowl.... ha ha ha

No featured comments at the moment.

satyen
on December 15, 2010, 7:15 GMT

The young lad apparently celebrated his call-up by getting a tattoo of a pitch drawn on his left forearm, featuring helpful arrows indicating where to bowl.... ha ha ha

Jonathan
on December 15, 2010, 7:35 GMT

Haha, this is hilarious!

Anirudh
on December 15, 2010, 8:14 GMT

Your best effort yet! Hillarious

"Cricket Australia have retaliated by putting Hauritz up for sale on eBay, along with an assortment of discarded spinners"!!!

"I don’t feel a day over 67"

Anand
on December 15, 2010, 9:21 GMT

deadly Johnson Mitchell and 96-year old Jayasuriya...ROFL...superb

MS. Hussain
on December 15, 2010, 10:04 GMT

Great peace, but the idea of putting OZ spinners on sale on e-bay won't do as only lots in dozens can be put ( as they haven't yet reached dozen after Warnie), On the other hand Pakistan is the only team who can put Discarded Captains/ banned players/ fined players & even rear combination of " banned, finned & reinstated" players for Sale in dozens, courtesy IJAZ BUTT

stand up
on December 16, 2010, 1:38 GMT

Andrew Hughes should be a stand up comedian.This is the funniest article I have ever read on this website.does he have a blog or something I can subscribe to..too funny!!